【Foundation】Data Visualization and Analysis: Using Matplotlib to Display Data

# 1. **2.1 Fundamental Concepts and Features of Matplotlib**

Matplotlib is a 2D plotting library based on Python, which offers a comprehensive set of APIs to create various types of charts and graphs. The main features of Matplotlib include:

- **Creating diverse types of charts:** Line charts, scatter plots, bar charts, pie charts, histograms, etc.
- **Customizing the appearance of charts:** Setting titles, labels, tick marks, colors, line styles, etc.
- **Interactive plotting:** Enabling users to zoom, pan, and rotate the graphics.
- **Data visualization:** Transforming data into visual representations for easier understanding and analysis.

# 2. Introduction to the Matplotlib Library and Installation

### 2.1 Fundamental Concepts and Features of Matplotlib

Matplotlib is a Python library for creating 2D graphics. It offers a wide range of tools that make it easy to create various types of charts, including line charts, bar charts, scatter plots, and histograms.

The main features of Matplotlib are:

- **Customization:** Matplotlib allows for extensive customization of chart appearance, including colors, line styles, markers, and axis labels.
- **Interactivity:** Charts can be interactively zoomed, panned, and rotated for better data exploration.
- **Multiple chart types:** Matplotlib supports various chart types, such as line charts, bar charts, scatter plots, histograms, pie charts, and 3D charts.
- **Data analysis:** Matplotlib can be integrated with other Python libraries such as NumPy and Pandas for data analysis and visualization.

### 2.2 Installation and Configuration of Matplotlib

To install Matplotlib, use the following command:

pip install matplotlib

Once installed, you can import Matplotlib with the following code:

import matplotlib.pyplot as plt

To configure Matplotlib, you can set the following parameters:

- **Backend:** Specifies the graphics backend for rendering charts. By default, the Qt5 backend is used.
- **Interactive:** Specifies whether charts should be displayed in interactive mode. By default, interactive mode is disabled.
- **Style:** Specifies the chart style. By default, the "default" style is used.

You can configure these parameters with the following code:

import matplotlib

# Setting the graphics backend
matplotlib.use('Qt5')

# Enabling interactive mode
matplotlib.interactive(True)

# Setting the chart style
matplotlib.style.use('ggplot')

# 3. Basics of Matplotlib Plotting

### 3.1 Creation and Display of Figures

#### Creating Figures

In Matplotlib, figures are created using the `pyplot` module.